" The Lords of Committee in obedience to your Majesty's said ' order of reference this day took the said Memorial into consi- ' deration, & having received the opinion of the Lords Commis- ' sioners for Trade & Plantations, & heard what the Memorialists ■ had to offer thereupon, do agree humbly to Report to your ' Majesty that it appears to this Committee, upon full & mature

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^' consideration of the Evidence which the petitioners have produced " in support of their petition to your Majesty for a Grant of Lands '•' in' America (parcel of the Lands purchased by the Government '• of the Indians) the most material part of which cAidence was "• not produced at the Board of Trade

pt. " That the Lands in question have been for some time past, " &. now are in an actual state of settling, numbers of families " to a very considerable amount removing thither continually from " your Majesty's other Colonies :

2d. '' That the Lands in question do not lye beyond the reach " of advantageous intercourse with this Kingdom, it appearing " from divers policies of insurance laid before this Committee '• that sundry commodities the produce of those Lands are exported '•'• II om thence to a considerable amount, & Evidence having been " likewise produced of a person being employed to collect & ship " from hence a cargo of British Merchandize for the use & " Consumption of the said Settlers and the natives : And it is " tlie opinion of this Committee, in case your Majesty shall be " graciously pleased to make a Grant of any part of these Lands, " tliat the petitioners are best intitled to such mark of your " Majestys Royal Favour, in regard they are the first who have '• made proposals for the purchase from Government of Lands in " your Majesty's Plantations in North America, and have agreed " to take the whole expence of the Civil Government on them- " i^elves : But the Lords of the Committee submit it as their " opinion, at the same time that they recommended to your Majesty " to comply with the prayer of the Petitioners that orders should " be sent to the Superintendant for Indian affairs to apprize the " Tribes of the Six Nations and their Confederates of such " intended Settlement ; and that the Lords Commissioners for " Trade & plantations should be directed to prepare a proper " Clause or Clauses to be inserted in the Grant, saving & reserving " to the respective Occupiers all prior claims to Lands within the " limits of the said Grant, whether derived from equitable or legal " titles ; and further strictly prohibiting the petitioners & their " associates, & their & each & every of their heirs & assigns from ^' settling, occupying dr improving any part of the lands lying